Yale-trained periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn provides expert dental implant placement just 10 minutes from Santa Ana at our Costa Mesa practice
Santa Ana residents searching for dental implants deserve a provider whose qualifications match the complexity of the procedure. Dental implant placement is oral surgery, and the training of the surgeon is the single most important factor in long-term success. At The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa, just 10 minutes from Santa Ana via the 55 freeway, implant surgery is performed exclusively by Dr. Chanook David Ahn, a Yale-trained, board-certified periodontist whose residency training focused specifically on implant placement, bone grafting, and the management of hard and soft tissues around implants.
From downtown Santa Ana, the MainPlace Mall area, or the neighborhoods along South Coast Metro, reaching our office at 3151 Airway Ave is straightforward. Take the 55 South toward Costa Mesa and exit at Bristol Street. The building provides free parking, and our ground-floor suite ensures easy access. Many Santa Ana residents tell us the drive is comparable to crossing town for a regular dental appointment, but the expertise they receive is dramatically different.
Affordability is a practical concern for many Santa Ana families considering implants. Our practice works with most PPO dental insurance plans and offers financing options that allow patients to spread the cost of treatment over time. Our administrative team provides a detailed cost estimate before any procedure, including what your insurance covers and what your out-of-pocket expense will be. We believe that financial barriers should not prevent access to high-quality implant care.
A missing tooth affects more than appearance. The adjacent teeth gradually shift into the gap, changing your bite alignment. The jawbone beneath the empty space begins to resorb without the stimulation that a tooth root provides. A single dental implant halts both of these processes. Dr. Ahn places a titanium post into the jawbone using 3D CBCT-guided surgical planning, then allows three to six months for the implant to integrate with the bone. Dr. Lu, our board-certified prosthodontist, designs a porcelain crown that sits on the implant and matches the surrounding teeth in every detail.
When several adjacent teeth are missing, an implant-supported bridge replaces them with a fixed, permanent prosthesis anchored by two or more implants. This approach avoids the need to grind down healthy neighboring teeth as traditional bridges require. It also preserves bone across the entire span of missing teeth, maintaining the natural contour of the jaw. For Santa Ana patients who have been wearing a removable partial denture, an implant bridge offers a transformative improvement in comfort, chewing efficiency, and confidence.
Patients who have lost most or all of their teeth, or whose remaining teeth are failing, can receive a complete set of fixed teeth supported by four to six dental implants per arch. The All-on-4 technique positions posterior implants at strategic angles to maximize bone contact, frequently eliminating the need for separate bone grafting procedures. Dr. Ahn often places temporary teeth on the implants the same day as surgery, so patients leave with function and aesthetics intact while waiting for the permanent prosthesis to be fabricated by Dr. Lu.
For Santa Ana patients who currently wear full dentures, implant-retained overdentures offer a significant quality-of-life improvement. Two to four implants are placed in the jawbone, and the existing or new denture snaps onto attachment points on the implants. This prevents the denture from shifting during eating and speaking, eliminates the need for adhesive, and slows the jawbone resorption that causes dentures to become loose over time. Overdentures are a cost-effective entry point into implant-supported tooth replacement.
Extended tooth absence, chronic periodontal disease, and trauma all cause the jawbone to lose volume. Without sufficient bone, implants cannot be placed safely. Dr. Ahn performs a range of bone regeneration procedures to rebuild the jaw and create a stable foundation for implants.
Guided bone regeneration places graft material at the deficient site and covers it with a biocompatible membrane that directs bone growth while preventing soft tissue from filling the space. Sinus floor elevation is used in the upper jaw when the sinus cavity has expanded into the area where implants need to be placed; graft material lifts the sinus membrane and encourages new bone formation. Ridge augmentation addresses a jawbone ridge that has become too narrow or too short to support implants.
Every grafting procedure at Loft Dental incorporates PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) therapy, which processes a small sample of the patient's own blood to concentrate platelets and growth factors. The resulting fibrin membrane is placed at the surgical site to speed healing, reduce inflammation, and improve the success rate of the graft. Santa Ana patients who have been told by other providers that implants are not possible due to bone loss should schedule a 3D CBCT evaluation with Dr. Ahn to explore bone regeneration options.
Santa Ana residents: our Costa Mesa office is just 10 minutes away via the 55 freeway. Call (714) 549-7030 or book online.
Schedule Your ConsultationGeneral dentists, oral surgeons, and periodontists all place dental implants, but periodontists bring a unique combination of skills to the procedure. Their three-year surgical residency includes intensive training in the biology of bone and soft tissue healing, which is exactly the knowledge needed to optimize implant outcomes. A periodontist understands how to manage the gum tissue around an implant for long-term health, how to graft bone to support an implant in compromised anatomy, and how to position an implant so the final restoration looks and functions naturally.
Dr. Ahn's training at Yale provided additional depth in complex surgical cases, including full-arch implant reconstructions, immediate implant placement after extraction, and implant placement in patients with significant medical histories. His board certification from the American Board of Periodontology confirms that his knowledge and skills have been independently evaluated and meet the highest standards in the specialty.
The partnership between Dr. Ahn (surgery) and Dr. Lu (prosthodontics) at Loft Dental means that the implant is placed with the final crown, bridge, or prosthesis already planned. This reverse-planning approach, working backward from the ideal restoration to determine the optimal implant position, produces consistently superior aesthetic and functional outcomes compared to practices where the surgeon and the restorative dentist work independently.
The Loft Dental Studio at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 is approximately 10 minutes from Santa Ana via the 55 freeway. Dr. Chanook David Ahn is a Yale-trained, board-certified periodontist who specializes in implant placement, bone regeneration, and soft tissue management. Dr. Elaine Lu, a UCLA-trained, board-certified prosthodontist, designs all restorations.
A single dental implant ranges from $3,000 to $6,000, including the titanium fixture, abutment, and porcelain crown. Full-arch All-on-4 restorations range from $15,000 to $30,000 per arch. The total depends on case complexity and whether bone grafting is required. We accept most PPO dental insurance plans and offer financing to make implant treatment accessible for Santa Ana families.
Yes. We offer oral sedation and IV sedation to ensure comfort during implant procedures. Both options are professionally administered with continuous vital sign monitoring. Oral sedation produces a relaxed, drowsy state; IV sedation provides deeper relaxation for longer or more complex procedures. Patients under IV sedation need a companion to drive them home.
Most patients resume normal activities within two to three days. Swelling and mild discomfort typically resolve within a week with over-the-counter medication. The full osseointegration period, during which the titanium post bonds with the jawbone, takes three to six months. PRF therapy at the surgical site accelerates healing and reduces post-operative discomfort significantly.
Yes. We provide financing options to help patients manage the investment in dental implants. We also verify your dental insurance benefits before treatment and maximize your coverage. Our team presents a complete cost breakdown so you can make informed decisions. Call (714) 549-7030 to discuss your financial options.